LA JOLLA, California—Mark Knopfler, the singer-songwriter for the band Dire Straits, can likely relate to what the Chico State men's basketball team has experienced over the past week.
 
"Sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger. Sometimes you're the ball,"
 Knopfler wrote in his song, "The Bug."
 
The past five-plus seasons have been mostly a home run for the Wildcats. They've won a trio of California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) crowns and two NCAA Championship Tournament West Region titles over that stretch. But they have experienced rough patches as well, including the one they are currently enduring.
 
The Wildcat' 73–50 loss at UC San Diego Saturday night marked their third straight lopsided defeat after starting the season 9-2.
 
The Wildcats hoped a return to RIMAC Arena, the site of last year's West Region Championship run, would help them turn things around. But, as Knopfler penned: "Sometimes you're the windshield. Sometimes you're the bug."
 
UC San Diego connected on its first six 3-pointers and 11 of its first 13 shots to race to a 30–11 lead and never looked back in a battle for third place in the CCAA standings. The Wildcats shot just 29 percent (15-for-52), including 18 percent from beyond the arc (2-for-11).
 
Chico State fell to 9-5 overall and 6-4 in the CCAA. UC San Diego improved to 10-5 overall and 7-2 in the CCAA.
 
Corey Silverstrom led Chico State with 11 points. Nate Ambrosini scored 10 and pulled down five rebounds.
 
The Wildcats also lost three straight last season before rebounding to win the West. "Everything can change in the blink of an eye," Knopfler wrote.
 
They hope to leave their losing skid in the rearview mirror beginning with a win at home Thursday against Cal State San Bernardino. That is the first of three home games in a row for the Wildcats, who will play seven of their next 10 at Acker Gym.